Share:

Stockholm based dj and producer HNNY has created a four-to-the-floor disco / house monster edit of Steve Reich’s hypnotic Nagoya Marimba last summer. The track is only available on a very limited, sold out and pricey vinyl edition. I have been wanting to play it at parties but there is just no high quality digital version available. The soundcloud stream has piled up more than 160K listens over the year. Seems like an underground hit to me.

And now, one year after the original vinyl release there is a re-issue coming out including an extended remake on the b-side. Don’t sleep on it and pre-order now.

I rarely buy vinyl these days but once in a while there comes a record that is so good I have to get it twice. This one is buy Australian gay gayness duo stereogamous feat. Shaun J Wright. The melancholic deep house song is carried by Shaun’s smooth yet determined vocals. Face Love Anew in XTC.

Share:

One of my favourite Michael Jackson songs just got the remix treatment by Marc Kinchen. I’m glad this is only happening now, I probably would have died in house remix heaven had this been released in the 90ties.

Share:

Fiona Apple recently revealed the self-drawn, mega-ugly cover to her first album in seven years, which is supposed to drop June 26. I couldn’t be more excited and have listened to her last one, Extraordinary Machine on repeat. Remember the Not About Love video? It features everyone’s favourite gay-acting bear Zach Galifianakis lip-synching Fiona’s lyrics. Such fun!

Ms Apple is coming to Toronto July 4th. Tickets go on sale this Friday 4-20.

Share:

After I read the interview with Claire Boucher / Grimes (below) in which she mentions that she had a 4:20 Mariah Fantasy and that MC is her favourite singer, I couldn’t be skeptical any longer. And I mean about what? The Montreal native has just released a gay-impact video to the pop hit single Oblivion featuring her naturally high-pitched voice.

On a side note: What is happening to me? I’m listening to more and more Canadian music. First The Weeknd, now Grimes. What’s next? Bieber?

Claire Boucher: (…) Mariah Carey is my favorite singer because her voice sounds utterly groundless. It’s not even a human voice; it almost sounds mechanical.

Pitchfork: How did you first get into Mariah?

Claire Boucher: In 2007 or 2008, I started listening to R&B on this road trip with my dad because we couldn’t agree on anything else. I smoked weed and listened to “Fantasy” and felt something I’d never felt before [laughs]– yeah, that makes me sound so ignorant. But then I slowly started gravitating more toward female singers, because I was able to relate. In medieval Christian thought, it was assumed that the better you were as a singer, the purer your heart was. I don’t necessarily think that’s true, but Mariah Carey has the voice of someone who has never done evil. (source)

Share:

Just watched the documentary Unsung about soul-singer Millie Jackson this morning. She is such a funny lady and I love her. It’s great to see how much Millie was and is in control of her life. One of my favourite quotes from the documentary is a piece of advice Millie gave Roxanne Shanté: “You’ll be known and you’ll be successful a lot longer for the nasty things that come out of your mouth than the nasty things you put in it.”

Share:

Erobique has entered the Beyonce remix competition. He handed in a super fun Muppet version of the song End of Time. This is how I like to listen to Beyonce: Effed up vocals that bring Miss Piggy to the stage.

A few years back Erobique was a member of the Hamburg based electro / disco / house band International Pony. Hello Gothic Girl.

Share:

For the last few days, I could not listen to anything else but The Weeknd. It’s the r&b project of Toronto-based 21 year old singer Abel Tesfaye. He released his first free mixtape, House of Balloons, in March and the second album ‘Thursday’ followed earlier in August. Supposedly, a third long player is due before the end of the year, titled Echoes of Silence.

So, the young one is pumping it out like crazy. Got twittered, hyped, collaborated and all-in-all supported by fellow Torontonian Drake. Of course, he’s been the talk on all the bloggies and whatever else it’s called. Recently, the song ‘High For This’ was featured in the trailer for the final season of HBO’s Entourage. By now, I’m actually a little scared that I’m turning straight. Anyways, here is a pfun clip of ‘High For This’ from The Weeknd’s first ever concert at the Mod Club in Toronto, July 2011.

Most of the songs are slow, moody numbers – hot vocals, falsetto – sex & drug references on top. There are Aaliyah and Beach House samples, chunky guitar outbreaks. And this probably not the last time I’m falling for music that carries some Prince and Kanye – 808s & Heartbreak – influences.

I’m wondering, when he sings about new glass tables in ‘House Of Balloons – Glass Table Girls’, does this really mean The Weeknd is all about Glass Bottom Boats? Me thinks YES, he’s going right thurrr. Although, rapgenius says otherwise but what do they know?

And we can test out the tables
Got some brand new tables
All glass and its four feet wide
But it’s a must to get us ten feet high
…
Bring out the glass tables

If after all the downbeat druggyness you feel the need to crawl out from under the layers of smoke and get hit by a four to the floor beat, listen to the Prince Club remix of The Morning. Does the trick!

My favourites: Life Of The Party, The Zone, The Birds Part 1 & 2, Gone

Share:

If you haven’t downloaded the new SSION album BENT yet, I really don’t know what you’re waiting for. It’s one of the best albums of the year! Maybe the best. If that doesn’t convince you, it’s also a free (scroll way down).
Perfect pop music. Yes, she did it.

*** Favourite line: “Don’t be a queen, just be a dragon” vs Lady Gaga’s “Don’t be a drag, just be a queen”
*** Top 40 hit: My Love Grows in the Dark
*** Only song to skip: Blonde With U
*** What gives me sleepless nights: Where is song number 7 in the download? Freaking out about it!
*** SSION website by Ryder Ripps who has collaborated with M.I.A. and Ryan Trecartin
*** Und die Punk Zöpfe sind abgeschnitten
*** Ke$ha, Madonna, Prince, Hole

SSION performed in Toronto on Sunday at Vazaleen. Here is the end of PSY-CHIC, which is also the first single off of the album. I wish had had recorded more, but I couldn’t stand still any longer.

And here is a clip from last year when Cody performed at Hotnuts.

Share:

It’s been 4 years since Roisin Murphy released Overpowered. She put out a few songs after the album but keeps us waiting for a full on disco house fest. In an recent interview the singer revealed that she is working on a new record, that is supposedly coming from a “deeper place”.

Share:

This super cute picture of Kate Bush was uploaded on her facebook today. Of course today also saw the release of the re-recorded Deeper Understanding single, soon to appear on Kate’s new album of reworks, Director’s Cut. The song first appeared on 1993’s The Sensual World. Instead of the Trio Bulgarka singing the chorus, this time around, we can hear Kate’s son Albert impersonating the computer programme in schräge filter mode. Listen below.

Share:

Coming Up is a disco funk US & Canadian number one single released by Paul McCartney in the spring of 1980. I got into it when I found a disco re-edit by Justus K the other day. The video features 10 Paul and 2 Linda McCartneys and a drum kit print of “Plastic Mac Band” poking fun at John Lennon’s and Yoko Ono’s “Plastic Ono Band”. I’ve never been into the former Beatles music or his humor but here we go.

Share:

Nomi Ruiz, vocalist on the first Hercules & Love Affair album, released a new single with her band Jessica 6 today. I love Nomi’s voice, which is perfect for this pop/house song with a little bit of dance melancholy on top. Almost a year ago, I wrote about the first J6 single, Fun Girl – which has a fun video.
Jessica 6’s album, See The Light, will be out this May.

Another single got the remix treatment today – though streaming only – My House by Hercules & The Love Affair. This one is by Andy Butler’s former lover, Derrick Carter. He had previously remixed one of my favourite tracks from the first H&LA album, You Belong with Nomi on lead vocals. So, we heard this pairing before, but I can’t resist Derrick Carter’s bouncy Chicago beats. He turned My House up for a bigger dance floor.

Share:

I just did a little mini mix of my current favourites for your pleasure. It’s a bit patchworky and choppy, excuse me, I did my nails! Just paint your face while listening, but hurry up it’s only 27 min.

Share:

Just a quick note on my favourite album of 2010: Erykah Badu’s New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh).
Feels like I had it with me evreywhere: at the cottage, at home, on flights and the remix below in the early dj sets.
Read Rich’s review over at fourfour, I could not have said it better.

Share:

My favourite box set of 2010 is The Chic Organisation – Vol. 1 Savoir Faire. There you have it. I find it very hard to write about Chic, the band. Where to begin? – They have been such a big part of disco, pop and hip-hop. Wouldn’t it be super boring to list the most successful production work that Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers have done outside of Chic?

I mean, you might as well just read their Wikipedia page. Of the above, the Savoir Faire set only has the Diana Ross singles, although in different mixes. Apparently, Ms Ross didn’t like the funky Chic version of the album, so she went back into the studio with one of her well-known Motown engineers and remixed the whole record. And that’s the version that we all became to know.

What is in this box set then? Of course, there are the biggest Chic hits like “Le Freak” (which was supposed to be called “Fuck Off”, written on New Years Eve 1977 after Rodgers and Edwards couldn’t get past the bouncer of Studio 54), “Good Times” (which can’t be mentioned without Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” and being the inspiration for the bass line to Queen’s “Another One Bites The Dust”), “Everybody Dance” and “I Want Your Love”.
With some of the hits on the compilation I have the feeling that I can’t listen to them anymore. Not that I don’t like them, but I heard them so many times either in original, sampled or remixed form that I need little break. I know them too well. But really that’s only “Good Times”, “Le Freak” and “We Are Family”.

The box set also includes 5 new remixes by Dimitri from Paris. These new versions of the disco classics are almost worth the whole box set alone. Even if these remixes only provide a new spin on well known disco staples like Sister Sledge’s “Lost In Music”, they don’t sound tired. Au contraire, these remixes sound very 2010 to me, with so much new disco coming out anyways. Their extended intros and breakdowns are perfect for slipping them into a current dj set. My two favourite Dimitri remixes on the box are “Thinking Of You” by Sister Slegde and “Saturday” by Norma Jean Wright.

“Saturday” originally appeared on Norma Jean’s solo album from 1978 which was released shortly after the first Chic album, on which she was the lead vocalist. The song sums up the disco area with its living-for-the-party-on-Saturday and being-bleak-and-dull-during-the-week theme. But really, nothing has changed for the weekend warriors of this world. The build up to the song that Dimitri has created has to be one of the most over the top intros ever. Listen below.

I just want to explode after hearing this.
I JUST CAN’T WAIT TIL SATHHHHUUUUUURDAY.

Earlier this year, I became aware of Johnny Mathis’ unreleased “I Love My Lady” album, produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards in 1980/81, around the same time they worked with Diana Ross. Johnny’s record label, concerned with the image of the all American crooner, thought the disco set would alienate his mom and grandmother audience and shelved the Chic collaboration. They didn’t know he would come out as an homosexual one year later, only to retract his statements in 1983.
Savoir Faire features 3 of the previously unreleased songs. I can recommend to track down whole album on the interwebz: the stripped down funky sound of Chic paired with Johnny’s smooth and silky voice is a great match.

Share:

Hercules & Love Affair will return with a new album at the end of January 2011, called Blue Songs.

The first taste of the new album, My House, features new vocalist Shaun Wright and has Hercules sounding housier than ever.

When I saw the band perform in Toronto this summer, I got very excited about their new music. The new Hercules sounded pushier, less disco, going more into an acid and deep house direction. Can’t wait for Blue Songs.

Share:

I’m so addicted to two songs by jj. How can you resist the opening lines of “Fuck all you hoes? Get a grip.” sung in sweet melancholic tones that turns out to be a balearic r&b number. What? “Let Them” samples Akon’s – Right Now (Na Na Na) and incorporates lyrics from T.I.’s – Let Them Talk.

The second song of the Swedish duo that is on repeat over hurr is ceo birthday, a cover version of Birthday Sex, turned into a piano ballad that skips the Birthday Sex chorus.

Share:

I’m really excited for the new Michael Jackson album that was announced today. “By Epic Records in conjunction with the Estate of Michael Jackson.” YES. It’s going to be released December 14.

Next week, a new song, titled ‘Breaking News’ is going to premiere on MichaelJackson.com. This has me even more excited because the song’s name reminds me of one of my MJ favourites: Tabloid Junkie from HIStory. It’s all about celebrity paranoia (best subject) and he sings: “They say he’s homosexual.” I always have to giggle on that line.

As I am a total fan, I LOVE the album cover. It has a little Dangerous cover feeling, welches ich auch liebe! In case you were wondering about the origins of the MICHAEL album cover:

The attached image of the album cover of MICHAEL was created by painter Kadir Nelson in 2009. In the oil painting, Kadir – who is known for story telling through his art – takes us on a journey through some key moments and important people in Michael Jackson’s life.

Share:

A couple of weeks ago, when saw one of Aaron-Carl’s updates about his upcoming European tour, I was very happy for him. Also, a little bit sad, because I would love to have been at Panoramabar when he would have djed there.
Then, just days before he was supposed to leave for the airport, he had to go to the hospital. He had to cancel his tour. It all sounded very tragic. So many of his friends and fans must have checked his updates. So many people send their love to Aaron-Carl. When he was diagnosed with cancer last week, it seemed like he would take the fight and be strong.

Then, this morning, I read the news that Aaron-Carl had died.
This is so sudden and I’m still in shock.
Aaron-Carl, we miss you so much. Sending all the love.

I must have heard Aaron-Carl for the first time, before I even started this blog. So maybe like in 2002 or 2003. I remember it very well. I was at Pro Vinyl, a record store in Frankfurt. I found the 12″ of Homoerotic. It has that spoken intro “Ladies and Gentlemen, the orgasm starts now.” I was hooked instantly. The 4 to the floor house beats with the male gay diva vocals were just up my alley. I mean, how could you resist lines like “Homo – Erotic, so much better than masturbation”.

Shortly after, I ordered his album “Uncloseted” online. When the CD finally arrived in the mail, I was blown away. This was not only house, it spanned genres of R&B, funk, ghettotech and techno. On top of that are the fun bitchy but heartfelt lyrics and his incredible voice. I listened to the album on heavy rotation. I played “I’m not Free” at all the parties I was djing at the time. For me, the highlights on the album are still “Coming Out Story (b.i.t.c.h.)” and “Ex-Boyfriend (Revenge Is Sweet)” with a classic diva chorus “Don’t you know my name???? AARON-CARL!”. I was in love.

Then, in 2005, with my friends Viola and Georg, we invited Aaron-Carl and Pirahnahead to dj at two parties in Cologne and Frankfurt. We were all so excited when we finally met each other at the airport. As we were walking to the parking garage, Aaron-Carl and I held hands out of excitement, joking about it at the same time. We hopped on the train to Cologne and took pictures in front of the Cologne Cathedral the day before the party.

But just hours after our Detroit friends arrived, Aaron-Carl got a phone call from his sister that his mother had died. This was so sudden and sad. He wrote this note in the evening. Of course, he had to return to Detroit the next morning.
The parties were happening, but all of us were sad and emotional. We were so glad that Piranahead was spinning both evenings, getting us through with heartfelt and also uplifting music.

In February 2006, after we had moved to Toronto, we took a road trip to Detroit and spend some time with Pirahnahead, Aaron-Carl, his partner Mel and his kids. When we visited AC at home, he showed us his home studio and arcade game collection in the basement. He was very proud of a “Ms. Pac Man” machine that he had just gotten recently. To Aaron-Carl, “Ms. Pac-Man is the ultimate diva”. We were screaming with laughter.

Back upstairs, we were just sitting on the couch, Aaron-Carl called one of his sons: “Stefan, Stefan, get over huuuuurrrr.” It was so cute and funny, the gay diva summoning his kid. This best pronunciation of “here” has stayed with me. I still love to use it.

I was happy when the ladies working at the museum told us the story of how Liberace saved Swarovski: When he called to order crystals, Liberace discovered Swarovski were on the brink of bankruptcy. He quickly upped his order to purchase their entire stock and therefore put them back into business. Gay Crystals Forever!

Scott Thorson: “Oh, I guess he was probably in his 30s, Larry. He says [to the plastic surgeon], “I want you to create Scott to look like me when he was younger; so he looks like my son.” He wanted me as his son. But at the same time, he wanted me as his lover.”

Q: Is the Liberace project going forward with Michael Douglas?
Matt Damon: Well, yeah, it is. We’re really excited about it. He’s obviously going through his health issues, but from what I understand, it’s not going to be a problem. The numbers are very much on his side and he’s a healthy guy, so we”™re all just hoping that everything goes well. We’re hoping to be right on track for shooting next summer. But obviously, we’re willing to wait for our star as long as we have to.

SO, we can only hope this film gets made. Matt Damon ending up looking like Michael Douglas’ son lover friend sister wife?! YES!!! Bring on the BIZARRO GAY GAYNESS.

Share:

I have been listening to the Animal Collective remix of Welt am Draht quite a lot recently and it made me think of the Fassbinder movie of the same name. Made for TV in 1973 World On A Wire was rarely shown on television or at the movies. I remember watching it a few years back on a German Regionalprogramm. I really liked it, but it was very slow and made me a bit sleepy, which is not a bad thing. Loved the camera by Ballhaus, of course, including the mirrors placed in the sets = illusions? = divided nature? of the actors.

“very beautiful story that depicts a world where one is able to make projections of people using a computer. And, of course, this leads to the uncertainty of whether someone himself is a projection, since in the virtual world projections resemble reality. Perhaps another, larger world has made us as a virtual one? In this sense it deals with the old philosophical model, which here takes on a certain horror.”

It seems that every article on Welt am Draht has to mention the movies Matrix, eXistenZ and most recent ones also Avatar. So, there you go, I mentioned them.

A completely restored version was shown at the Berlinale earlier this year. A DVD has been released in February including English subtitles.

Share:

Two albums have just gotten a release date and I can’t wait to listen more rock and acoustic indie sounds? Seriously.

1) Hole – Nobody’s Daughter – April 17
Ok, this one had release dates before and in the meantime Courtney Love turned it into a Hole record. The album was produced by Linda Perry, Billy Corgan, and Michael Beinhorn, who helmed Hole’s previous album, 1998’s Celebrity Skin (source). Last week, Hole performed the new song Samantha on a late night UK TV show.

2) Tracey Thorn – Love and Its Opposite – May 18
Although produced by Ewan Pearson, judging from the album opener, this sounds more like an acoustic affair. You can download, Oh, the Divorces!, of the former Everything But The Girl leadsinger from pitchfork. I’m so into the album cover. And I know a few people who might get a tingeling sensation downstairs, when they hear, that Love And Its Opposite features a collaboration with Jens Lekman.

Share:

Lady Miss Kier is back singing a cover version of the anti war song Bullet Proof. She has been singing this one for a few years now, so it’s great that it finally gets a proper release on DFA records. Toffi and I saw her performing it live in Montreal last decade.

The Ray Mang feat. Lady Miss Kier song keeps the p-funky style of George Clinton’s original from his 1985 album, “Some Of My Best Jokes are Friends“, and pumps it up for 2010.

Share:

Last fall, Mama Murphy had performed the song live. Now, listen to the studio version of the new Roisin Murphy single, Momma’s Place (not sure how long the link will last). Update: The final version of the song is now posted on her facebook page.

The piano house track, including 4 remixes, will be released January 18 through AWAL. It also sounds like there is a sample of an 80’s synthpop track in there…

Share:

You can stream Roisin Murphy’s new pumping single, Orally Fixated on her facebook or myspace page.

Eat Me. Eat Me. Eat Me.

My friends at omgblog report that this is one of three new singles to come out over the next months through online distributor AWAL. Orally Fixated will soon be available from The Guardian for free for a limited time. Can’t wait for remixes.

Share:

Roisin Murphy premiered new songs in London last weekend. Her pregnancy seems to have popped out “Momma’s Place”. She sounds amazing, singing live over the pumping beats. The synths in the background sound like a sample, no?

The first single to Roisin’s planned new album is supposed to be “Demon Lover”. During an interview with BBC6 early this year she described it as a “big funky house track”. Not sure when the album drops, as she was also talking about releasing it in bundles, maybe as EPs? So, let’s hope we’re getting some new stuff soon.

The Kid Cudi album, Man On The Moon: The End Of Day, has leaked and of course it is great. Beats be good and his sometimes sleepy voice puts me into some kind of romantic(?) mood. He be cute.

Share:

Can this September get any better? Mariah is releasing her “Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel” at the end of the month and about a week before, September 21, we’re getting a new Yoko Ono album, Between My Head And The Sky. It is the first record since 1972 recorded with the Plastic Ono Band. The new band lineup features her son Sean Lennon, who has also co-produced the album with Yoko.

I was just listening to the samples of the songs and I guess the more electronic songs “Watching The Rain” and the first single / ep “The Sun is Down!” are my favourites. There is also the classic Yoko moaning in “Moving Mountains” (for a moment I was hoping she had done a cover version of the Usher song), the fun lyrics of “Ask The Elephant!” and how could I forget about the heartbreaking ballad “I’m Going Away Smiling”?

Share:

Of course, Jochen Diestelmeyer is just in gay drag, but I’m so excited to hear new songs after his band Blumfeld faded away in 2007.

JD’s new album “Heavy” will be out September 25, the single “Lass uns Liebe sein” (Let us be Love) hits stores September 4 and www.distelmeyer.de is online now should be onläne pretty soon. With titles like that, it has to be good. (via Spex)

Share:

I’m not so big on indie or rock music. However, Woods is the standout song released on the Blood Bank EP by Bon Iver this January. Dropping all guitars and instruments, Woods is multi layers of R&B a cappella sprinkled with autotune. Sorry, Kanye, this is the new Cher.

According to wiki, the name, Bon Iver, is a corruption of the French “bon hiver” (good winter), or a misspelling of “bon ivre” (good Drunk). Sounds like another hit.

Now, I’m waiting for a slamming deep house remix.

I’m up in the woods
I’m down on my mind
I’m building a still
To slow down the time

Share:

I wanted to blog about Courtney Love’s Elle UK cover story earlier but somehow got sidetracked. Then, I thought let’s wait until January 1st and see if her new album gets released as promised by Courtney’s scribbles across the Elle pictures. But no, the album isn’t out yet. However, this weekend I got a copy of the magazine and read the brilliant interview. Below are excerpts.

“Silk and crystal top by Givenchy
Sequined silk shorts and lace gloves, both by Chanel
Ribbon and crystal necklace by Lanvin
Tights, customized by Courtney, by Falke
Suede and patent-leather boots by Alexander McQueen
Writing by Courtney”

Are you happier now?
“I’m off antidepressants for the moment because my album producer wants me to feel the rage, wants me to be really angry, wants me to face the demons. And I am so f***ing angry! I’m getting back on them as soon as recording the album is finished. I’m not going to punch anybody, but I have to do two hours of exercise and chanting a day to feel good.”

At what point did you think you needed to change your body?
“Sweetheart, I was 192 pounds and doing Italian Vogue! The trouble is that I always think I look hot, no matter how heavy I am. But this was a punch in the face. They had an amazing Chanel couture dress and the only way it would work was for the stylist to cut out the entire back so it just covered the front of my thighs. That was it for me. The unretouched pictures from that shoot are still on my fridge.”

How did you get to that size?
“I got to that weight through macrobiotic food. Who knew you could get fat being healthy? It was yummy and I ate way too much. Trudie Styler and Sting eat that shit, but they work out for like three hours a day.”

Who are your favourite designers?
“Rick Owens, Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy, Lanvin, Todd Lynn, Christopher Bailey for Burberry. I love Vivienne Westwood. She’s mad ““ but I’m madder. I was introduced to her at a V&A gala and said, “It’s such a pleasure to finally meet you.” She said, “What do you mean? We’ve had lunch! You talked at me for three hours!””

Share:

When 100% Pure Love by Crystal Waters came out, my Bavarian friend Kiki and I were all over the dance floor of our favourite club, Construction Five (Yes, there were lots of Bauarbeiter, we loved das Milieu. And yes, they let underage girls in).

Had I asked myself where 100% Pure Love’s cowbell came from, I would have stumbled across the following treasure before: Jeanette “Lady” Day – Come Let Me Love You. First pressed as a 12″ on the legendary New York disco label Prelude, it got a so-called Mastermix treatment by Shep Pettibone in 1982. This was one of the mixes that were featured on Shep’s radio show and the biggest mixes were subsequently released on a Prelude compilation.

But now, without further ado, please enjoy the moans and cowbells of Jeanette “Lady” Day.
Download it at the great Beat Electric or listen below.

*attention: well known Madonna trivia following*
I bet Madonna must have heard Jeanette moaning in the 80ties. Why else would she have called Shep? First a couple of remixes for the lady (Color Mix of True Blue) until he finally produced Vogue for Ms. Ciccone.

Share:

Based on his release schedule, Mr. Louis Burns can be considered the Kate Bush of house music. Better known as Lil Louis, his last release was the single “Clap Your Hands” in ’97. A great, stomping house song. Of course, before that he released the now classic house albums “Journey With the Lonely” in ’92, featuring the single “Club Lonely“, and his 1989 debut “From the Mind of Lil Louis” including the moaning anthem “French Kiss”.

And now, it looks like a new double album is coming out later this year, titled “Two Sides To Every Story”. Lil Louis’ website is a bit wonky (now updated and pictures only), however a few release events seem to be scheduled. For instance, one in his hometown Chicago on Christmas Day.
Apart from that, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of promotion happening for the release yet. In an interview with Little Louis Vega and Lil’ Louis, LL mentions that only the LLs have his new single “Crazy”.

Aptly titled Two Sides to Every Story, the album is written entirely by Lil Louis from a woman’s perspective, depicting their joy, love and heartache of being with an enigmatic artist. The Double CD, Side A and Side AA is divided between R n B and Dance – it will move you and have you moving. (…) In an unparalleled move, Two Sides to Every Story will be released with a companion book, entitled A Man’s Diary: A Good Man”™s Search for a Good Woman. Louis skillfully uses two art forms to speak candidly about love, life, and relationships.

The text above is taken from his website and together with the album cover below, I can’t help but think about R. Kelly. I’m hopeful that this doesn’t mean anything bad for the new music.

With friends I had so many great party nights dancing to Lil Louis music. I still remember one gay tea dance at Plastik (long closed) in Frankfurt. We were still kind of high from the music when the DJ played the last song. As the music faded out my best friend screamed: “Spiel’ noch ein Lied, meine Pille kommt grade!” (Play another song, my pill is just kicking in) , which was greeted with laughter. Sure enough, the DJ played one more song and we totally freaked out: Club Lonely.

Share:

Jaime played Lucky by Donna Summer on Saturday and I had totally forgotten about the Giorgio Moroder produced song from the Bad Girls album. I fell in love all over again, of course the rhythm track but also the way Donna sings here. In some parts it almost sounds like fantasy English to me, although the story is pretty straight forward:

I knew he wouldn’t beg
So I gave in without fighting
Been so long since I’ve been this way
Since I loved this way
So I asked him if he would stay for a while

Lucky comes easy
Lucky’s not shy
And if you’re lucky
You’ll go for a ride

I think it would be great on stage in fantasy English.

It seems I have a weakness for songs called Lucky:
If there is nothing missing in my life, then why do these tears come at night.

Lucky be sad.

Share:

When I attended a couple of Prince concerts last year, I was hoping for a live album. Especially of the aftershows that took place at a smaller venue at the O2 Arena in London. And in October, a little bit over a year later, this is what’s happening.

Prince and photographer Randee St. Nicolas are releasing 21 Nights, a book of photographs spanning his London residency, including poetry, lyrics and “Indigo Night,” a CD–available only with the book–capturing Prince’s live after-show sessions.

One question remains: Is Kanye the new Cher?
At least, he has to be the new Queen of Auto-Tune. There is lots of hope that his new album, tentatively titled 808’s & Heartbreak (out December 16), has lots of filters on his singing voice. Rumor has it the raps are gone.

Share:

The iPhone App store is selling about 20 Bible applications. Wanna get them all.
…
Roisin Murphy covered Slave to Love by Bryan Ferry for Gucci. Listen to the full song in the behind the scenes footage for the new Gucci by Gucci Pour Homme ad (via).
…
I’m back in Toronto after a long summer in sausageland. After I got here, I had such a sausage craving that I had to buy my favourite Bratwürstchen immediately. I can only recommend Johnsonville sausages. My personal favourites are Brats, Beer’n’Brats and for that extra special German-Canadian fusion taste sensation breakfast sausages with maple syrup.
…
I kind of want to visit Johnsonville, Wisconsin and do a tour of the sausage factory where I can stuff brats in all my orifices.

I really don’t know what took me so long to get Millie Jackson’s album E.S.P. (Extra Sexual Persuasion). Blame it on sluggish postal service.

Anyway, the vinyl arrived at my doorstep this week and it hasn’t left the turntable yet. The stand out track on the album is Slow Tongue, a slow burning number with sultry lyrics and a hypnotic guitar hook. That’s my kind of nastiness. I loves me some Millie.

Juices
Lubricating
You bring me to the rim
I can’t take it anymore

Slow tongue
Working your way down

Another E.S.P. highlight is Sexercise: “I do my workout late at night, the bedroom is my gym”. Expect a couple of Millie posts in the coming weeks. In case you haven’t noticed, Millie has the best album covers.

Happy Valentines!

Share:

Last night, Mary and I went to our favourite gay strip club in town (there is only one). One of the strippers sat with us for a while. His name was Flame (I think it’s his real name). He made fun of me because I’m a lap dance virgin (still are). Suddenly, he fell off the chair and we had the last laugh.
Mary was really into one stripper who looked like a CK model. When he starred back at Mary he was basically eye-raping her. A couple of shots later, Mary said: “I want to give him my PIN number!”. I knew it was time for us to leave.

Like a mantra against my hangover, on repeat today: Get Myself Together (Hercules HercHouse Mix) by Chaz Jankel. Soon to be released on Tirk including a re-edit by Todd Terje. Get the song at the great mp3 blog These Rocks Pop. They have Mariah mixes, too.

Share:

I’ve been doing some Madonna research lately (more on that later) and came across this short clip of Madonna performing Dress You Up at Keith Haring’s Party of Life in May 1984 at the Paradise Garage, almost 6 months before the Like A Virgin album was released.

By Keith Haring (source):
“In the spring of 1984, it’s time for my birthday, and I stage what I call my Party of Life event. I want to make this into quite a grand affair. The fact is, I’m now making a certain amount of money and I feel a certain guilt about it, and I want to share it with my friends… you know, sharing the wealth! So I plan this big party, which is for my birthday, but not on my birthday.

I ask Madonna if she could sing at the party and she agrees. As a matter of fact, she had been to my studio just days earlier to play me some cuts from her new album ‘Like A Virgin.’, at which time hadn’t come out yet. I immediately liked “Dress You Up” and “Like a Virgin”, and we decide she’ll sing these two songs at the party. While we’re hearing these songs, I do a painting on Madonna’s leather jacket which she wears to the party. Madonna decides that she wants to sing these two songs on a brass bed covered with frilly material and strewn with white roses.

I decide to hold the party at Paradise Garage, because it continues to be my clubhouse and the coolest club in New York. Although only open weekends, I persuade the owner to let me hire the club out on a Wednesday night. I now ask LAII ( and myself and other friends of Keith ) to help me decorate the place. We make these huge cotton banners, which we spray paint in fluorescent colors. We hang these around the club. We also hang fluorescent streamers everywhere, and in another room we erect these huge fluorescent pillars and vases with flowers in them. We also hang some of my huge vinyl tarps so that the event also turns into a big exhibition.” (Read the full text)

Share:

That Chick supposedly is the tentative title of Mariah’s new album, scheduled for April. The title brings the great line from It’s Like That to my mind: “Them chickens is ash and I’m lotion”. Give me the first single, already. Can’t wait.

Share:

Of course, we were at the Beaver for the birthday party of P., slurping oysters. When I heard that Owen is doing a cover of a Celine Dion song at the Gladstone just next door, it was already too late. But I don’t need to be sad anymore, there is a video:

Share:

Jamie and Will brought Andy Butler of Hercules and Love Affair to play a dj set in Toronto in December. It was a perfect Saturday night with lots of dancing.
Now, the Hercules album is one of the first releases that I look forward to in 2008.

During his dj set I met Andy briefly and he told me that Blind, the upcoming single feat. Anthony Hegarty, should feature a remix by Frankie Knuckles and that one of the next singles will (hopefully) contain a remix by MK / Marc Kinchen. I’m especially excited about the later. To my knowledge MK hasn’t done a house remix in years, although his productions were so much fun in the 90ties.

If you want to listen to some Hercules and Love Affair music now there are a couple of tracks floating around. There are 2 songs that got an official 12 inch release last year: Roar and Classique #2. These songs together with Blind, Athene and Hercules Theme are available for listen at their myspace or hype machine or elbo.ws

In addition to that, Andy Butler has turned the new Goldfrapp single A&E into a chiming disco number with African chants (listen).

On a side note, doesn’t Ms Goldfrapp look like a Humpe sister in the video to A&E (updated)? I’m totally into leaf people on bikes.

Share:

If you’re on your way home
Stop and buy me something
Boy, buy me a bag or buy me some shoes
This is a part of me that I’m trying to get you used to
Buy me diamonds
Buy me pearls
Buy me this
Buy me that
Make me fall deeper in love with you
(Feel Like A Woman)

As you may already know, the new Mary J. Blige album leaked on the interwebs. It is a very well produced record, with classic Mary themes. With Fade Away there is even a slow, self-reflective disco number that has her singing: “Sometimes invisibility would be great”.
Basically, what I wanted to say is that Growing Pains is another favourite Mary album of mine.

Share:

Dear Readers, In recent weeks I felt a bit dull, especially when it came to blogging. I wasn’t feeling it, nothing excited me. Now, there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel. I’m talking about an inspiring interview, which I’ve read today.

Mary J. Blige talks to MTV about her new album, Growing Pains (due Dec 18), and the first single, Just Fine (couldn’t resist highlighting):

“So many people are like, ‘I’m perfect.’ I’m so imperfect, that’s why I’m able to let everything out and let people see everything. ‘Cause I’m just a mess like every other person that’s a mess out there. (…) So as long as I’m a human being and I’m not perfect, I’m able to say I’m having some growing pains. Because in order to sustain where you are once you made such a breakthrough that everyone is looking at you, now everyone is like, ‘Ooh, is she gonna make a mistake?’ Yes, I’m going to make a mistake. Yes, I’m still gonna do things. And that’s what Growing Pains is about, it’s about finally not whining about the pain, Mary J. Blige, and accepting the pain that comes with growing.”

“‘Just Fine’ was written based on me having a good day,” Blige explained. “You know, I can have 30 or 40 [bad days]. I can have as many bad days as anyone. But I choose to say, ‘I’m just fine.’ Right now. You know those days when your hair looks good, you’re not sitting in traffic, your man’s not acting like an idiot. You’re just fine. So it’s OK to have those days. So instead of coming with something ungrateful to the universe, how about I come with something first that’s says, ‘You know what? It’s OK. Enjoy this day if you’re having a great day.’ ”

“Feel Like a Woman” (…) she said, is based on the idea that it’s OK for women to receive gifts from men and that they shouldn’t be called gold diggers for it. “Sometimes you got to enjoy him splurging on you,” she said.

Just Fine Fine Fine Fine Fine, was produced by the The Dream and Tricky Stewart, the team responsible for Umbrella Ella Ella. Makes Sense? It doesn’t stop here, the videos to both songs are directed by Chris Applebaum. The video to Just Fine had its premiere today.

Share:

Last weekend Toffi and I went to the big arena Prince show. It seemed like it was sold out, around 20000 people. The stage in form of his trademark symbol is set up in the middle of the venue. We were in the fifth row directly at the point of the symbol.
I was especially happy to hear Controversy and If I Was Your Girlfriend. During 1999 Prince, to make the audience sing along, jokingly asks: What’s the name of this song?

Even more exciting than the big show are his aftershows. During his 21 nights in London, an aftershow is happing every night, although it is not announced whether or not he’ll be there.

He played the aftershow last Friday, so Toffi and I had the feeling he would not play the aftershow on Saturday. He didn’t. His band played and there are great musicians but the jazztrumentals were kind of heavy on us.

To make sure I would get another Prince filled aftershow, I bought tickets for 3 shows that are happening before I go back to Toronto. The first was this Friday. Again jazzstrumentals only. No Prince.

Finally, yesterday night, Prince and the band performed. They came on stage at 1 am and rocked the house from the very first minute. The audience was on a very high energy level too, singing along for most of the songs. They played a few cover versions, including What Have You Done For Me Lately by Janet.

For the encore Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas joined the band and rhymed CIA with KKK. He always reminds me of a jumping jack. Too soon, the house lights went on, the dj started playing again. About 5 minutes later, half of the audience had already left, people are screamingly running back to the stage: Prince and the band are back.
They launch into a guitar heavy version of Red Headed Stepchild, an unreleased song that Prince had written for his former protege Tamar. At this point the audience went totally nuts, jumping up and down during the whole song, singing the refrain.

Share:

I leave my place at around 9 to walk to the cinema to see The Godfather of Disco (trailer) at its UK premiere. As I arrive at the venue I see Mel Cheren head into the theatre. And just by chance I sit right next to him during the screening. The film is loosely based on Mel’s autobiography and features lots of interviews. Apart from Mel’s story, I found the interviews with Junior Vasquez (of all people) and Kevin Hedge of Blaze (he cute) most interesting. Also, it was very sad to see some of speeches that were held during Larry Levan’s funeral service.
After the documentary, I said hi to Mel and the director, Gene Graham. Now, let’s hope they’re getting some good distribution for the movie, that you can see it.

Then I rushed across town to get to the Prince afterparty. As Toffi is coming over next weekend and we’re heading to a Prince concert, I didn’t want to spoil the big arena experience and decided not to go to one of the main shows before. Although, Prince does not perform at every afterparty, I was very optimistic.

So, I get there at a quarter to one. 15 minutes later Prince hits the stage. Dressed in a red suit, red hat with big red feathers on top. His keyboard is set up in the middle of the stage and he starts with two Stevie Wonder cover versions, Superstition and Higher Ground, before moving on to A Love Bizarre. The audience goes crazy. He does back up vocals for Marva King on the Chaka Khan cover of Sweet Thing. Then, The Ballad of Dorothy Parker.
Most of the songs feature saxophone solos by Maceo Parker, of James Brown and Parliament/George Clinton fame.

The whole atmosphere on stage is quite relaxed. At one point Prince sings:
“Learn to work the toilet seat – If it’s up – Put it down” (from the new song, The Rules)
And gets the audience to repeat the lines.

A couple of classic covers follow, like Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin). Prince and the band leave the stage at 2:30 am.

Share:

I’m a little bit excited to go to a couple of Prince concerts in the weeks ahead. You probably heard that he is playing the O2 Arena in London (the former Millennium Dome) for 21 nights this August and September. I’ve been reading reviews of his first 4 shows like crazy. Of course, the people on the Prince message boards praise each concert over the last.

While reading the forums I came across an entry were the fans posted lists of the Prince concerts they had attended. They also denoted front row views with a little *. And I thought I had been to a lot of Prince concerts. Remember: there is always a bigger nerd.

I am fully aware that I am dating myself with this list, but here it is:

Maybe I’m thinking of this concert so fondly just because Yvonne and I had to work hard for this: We were standing at the entry for three hours, pressed against iron bars. Through the Prince fan base we had heard about the “secret” show and got in line at 10 pm, even before the MTV awards were over. Finally, the doors opened at 1 am. After we waited for another hour, Prince got on stage and blew the house down. He even spoke German: “Kaputt!”, referring to a mic that was quickly replaced.
I think it took days to get that stupid grin off my adolescent face.

Prince during a Nude Tour concert (source).
I’m still in love with the pattern of the suit.

I met my friend Yvonne on the local bus to the Nude Tour concert at Waldbühne in Berlin. Taking the seat next to her I said: “I want to be front row and you?”. She was in. Together, we ran down the steps of the arena, landed in the 2nd row and had a blast.

Share:

This is the cover for Roisin Murphy’s second solo album, Overpowered. She is wearing a Sandra Backlund dress (thanks Mary). With every photo and every B-side I’m getting more and more excited about the project. The October release date seems so far away… I have the feeling it’s going to be my album of the year.

So far, we got Overpowered (the single) and two B-Sides, Foolish and Sweet Nothings. Have a listen at her myspace, were you can also get the free mp3 of Modern Timing. Collect & love them all.